Lead-pencil



AUNrTED STATES i ATENT Prion.

LEAD-P ENCIL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 555,690, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed December 2, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. FROST, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lead-Pencils; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to lead-pencils that are made with a movable lead; and the object of my improvement is to make a convenient and inexpensive pencil that for ordinary use will notrequire sharpening and when the lead is exhausted can be thrown away.. To accomplish the desired result I make the outer case of wood or any other suitable material, forming it in two parts, one part having along the whole length of the pencil a groove or channel into which the lead is fitted, the other portion having on its inner surface a rectangular channel or groove into which a belt is fitted, the belt running lengthwise of the pencil and in contact with the lead, so that when the said belt is moved a corresponding movement is imparted to the lead.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view of the finished pencil having the lead pushed forward ready for use. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise sectional view of the pencil. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

A represents a cylindrical lead of the kind ordinarilyT used in lead-pencils.

Bis the portion of the wood casing into which the lead is fitted.

a is a semicircular groove extending the whole length of the part B.

B is the pointed portion of the wood casing surrounding the lead. This part may be made integral with the part B, or in a separate piece and glued thereto.

C is the part of the wood casing opposite to the part B. This portion of the pencil has cut therein two rectangular grooves or channels b and b', one being on the inside and the other outside, as shown.

D is a narrow endless belt, of any suitable Serial No. 570,768. (No model.)

fabric, extending lengthwise on both sides of the .part Oand lying in the channels b and b in close contact with the cylindrical lead A on the under side. To keep the belt in position over the ends of the part C, these ends are cut away a short distance, so as to form a forked portion through which the belt passes, thus preventing it from slipping off. If desired, into these forks, formed at the ends, small rollers may be fitted, thus reducing the friction and allowing the belt D to move easily. The part of the belt D lying in contact with the lead A is waxed or coated with any material that will prevent it slipping over the lead.

The parts of the pencil being constructed as shown, when it is desired to move the lead farther out the belt is moved in the opposite direction by pressing down on it with the thumb and moving the thumb along on the pencil. This movementwill carry the belt D along in the same direction as the thumb is moving, while the lead A is forced in an opposite direction. Should the lead get too far out it is pushed back by reversing the movement of the belt.

Instead of having the belt D in frictional Contact with the lead A, it may be permanently secured thereto by a small metal clamp or by any other convenient device attached to the upper end of the lead and connected to the belt, or the belt may be providedwith an attachment that presses against the upper end of the lead, thus moving it outwardly, in which case any backward movement of the lead is made by pressing against the exposed point.

Instead of the endless belt shown, a single strip of any iiexible material may be used, one end thereof being secured to or in fric tional contact with the lead, and the free end extending just outside of the case and torn off as it is pulled out. The manner of constructing and putting together the parts of the outer case may also be varied to facilitate the manufacture and to accommodate the different materials used.

Having thus described my invention', what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A lead-pencil having therein a movable lead actuated by an endless belt, one portion therein the channels b and b', and the endless belt D, all arranged substantially as shown I5 and for the purpose described.

4. A lead-penci1 having therein a movable lead actuated by a strip of flexible material connected With and extending along the said lead and projecting outside of the outer caszo ing, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES W. FROST. 1Witnesses:

THos. D. MoWLDs, SAML. I-I. KIRKPATRICK. 

